Red Bull reportedly want to sign Oscar Piastri if Max Verstappen decides to leave the team.
Four-time champion Verstappen, 28, is under contract through 2027 but his future has been called into question in recent months.
Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every practice, qualifying session and race in the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship™ LIVE in 4K. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
After being linked with Mercedes, he has also hinted at potentially stepping away from the sport in the near-future, particularly following his criticism of the 2026 regulations which he has compared to “Mario Kart”.
Uncertainty surrounding Verstappen is causing Red Bull to search for a preferred replacement should he decide this will be his final year with the team.
Now Autosport are reporting the bombshell news that Australian Piastri, 25, is Red Bull’s frontrunner to succeed Verstappen.
The McLaren driver’s existing deal runs until the end of the 2028 season, but that is not stopping team principal Laurent Mekies and managing director Oliver Mintzlaff from wanting to press ahead with talks should Verstappen opt out.
It is understood Red Bull’s admiration of Piastri was confirmed by multiple sources at last weekend’s Miami Grand Prix where he finished third behind Kimi Antonelli and teammate Lando Norris.
Red Bull are not yet convinced new driver Isack Hadjar can lead the team — and do not believe turning to their academy is the way forward.
Former Red Bull boss Christian Horner revealed back in 2022 his regret at passing up the opportunity to sign Piastri.
He said: “There was an opportunity for Red Bull to look at him at the time and we didn’t take up that option, which is something that I regret.
“What he went on to achieve is phenomenal, in Formula 3 and Formula 2.
“[Piastri is] a great driver. The only problem he now has to deal with is [that] the expectation on him will be immense.
“He’s going to have to get in and deliver against Lando, which is no mean feat. But you either sink or swim in this business. He’s a very, very capable driver, [so] I’m sure he’s going to do very well.”
Since then, Piastri has gone on to win nine Grands Prix and finish third in last season’s Drivers’ Championship, 13 points behind Norris and 11 adrift of Verstappen.
He endured a nightmare start to 2026, failing to complete a lap in Australia and China.
But Piastri bounce back with an impressive second place in Japan, before securing another podium in Miami.
